On 28 August 2024, human rights defenders (HRDs) from Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces and Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) met with the diplomatic community at the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok to provide briefing about the ongoing criminal proceedings against the HRDs for exercising their right to freedom expression. The meeting was attended by representatives from:
- Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok
- Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Thailand
- Embassy of Canada to Thailand
- Embassy of Denmark in Thailand
- Embassy of France in Thailand
- Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Embassy of Japan in Thailand
- Embassy of Luxembourg in Bangkok
- Embassy of Norway in Bangkok
- Embassy of the United States of America in Thailand
- Embassy of Switzerland in Thailand
- British Embassy in Bangkok
- EU Delegation to Thailand
In addition, the HRDs and TLHR met with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Bangkok as well as the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) to discuss and reflect on the issue of freedom of expression in the context of cultural rights in the Southern Border Provinces.
In these meetings, the HRDs and TLHR specifically highlighted the criminal charges against the HRDs simply for organizing a cultural gathering in 2022 (Melayu Raya 2022) and a seminar on “The Right to Self-Determination and Peace in Patani” in a university. The HRDs and TLHR expressed their concerns about these cases and called for the dropping of charges and the cessation of harassment against the people.
The individuals facing criminal charges in the Melayu Raya 2022 case also filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand and asked that the Commission carry out an investigation on this matter.
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